Screw and washer assembling machine and method



Jan. 27, 1942. c. e. OLSON 2,271,028 SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING. MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Filed July 11, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 3 BY 601% G OM07?) 4 1 I @1 m E ATTORNEY-5,

C. G. OLSON Jan. 27, 1942.

SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v M INVENTOR Car& 6: 0M0) ATTORNEYS,

Jan. 27, 1942. c. G. OLSON 4 2,271,028

SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1938 16 Sheet-Sheet 3 BEEF:

INVENT OR.

BY: ("0T5 G. 0&5070 QM/772004;

ATTORNEYJ Jan. 27, 1942. c. G. OLSON 2,271,028

SCREW'AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 27, 1942.

SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD C. G. OLSON Filed July 11, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY-5.

SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 19:58 16 Sheets-Sheet e g I INVENTOR. 266- G. 0560M I 5y. a m 1 l. ATTORNEY 5 Jan. 27, 1942. c. G. OLSON 2,271,028

SCREW AND WASHER AS'SEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 il 40 fl .5 w i gzgg I L630:- 7% E ATTORNELZ c. G. OLSON Jan. 27, 1942.

scREw AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD l6 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 11, 1938 ATTORNEY6.

Jan. 27,- 1942.

0. cs. OLSON SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July 11, 1938 -77wuerzi2r Car G 05607? @11/ 7720044 ATTORNEY6- Jan. 27, 1942. c. s. OLSON SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD l6 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed July 11, 1938 ATTORNEY5 Jan. 27, 1942; c. G. OLSON SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 13 Jan. 27, 1942. c. G. OLSON SCREW AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 a wm F m m m 0 0 m 1M 1/ v di i 4 I z 2;; a, w w v l J m k3 3%. (\iv. .2 p ugh-' 4 m Jan. 27, 1942. c. G. OLSON 2,271,028

SCREW 'AND WASHER ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 11, 1938 l6 Sheets- Sheet 16 ATTORNEY .5.

Patented Jan; 27,

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE sonsw AND wasnan ASSEMBLING MACHINE-AND METHOD Carl G. Olson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Illinois Tool Works,Chicago, Ili., a. corporation of Illinois Application July 1 1, 1938, Serial No. 218,680

76 Claims.

. material of the blank is projected outwardly in proportion to the depth that the ribs of the thread rolling die cut into the blank, and therefore the diameter of the finished screw is greater than the diameter of the originalblank.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine for assembling washersand screw blanks and, while retaining the blank and washer in assembled relation,. rolling the threads thereon to thereby produce, as an article of manufacture, a permanent assembly of screw and washer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for producing, as an article of manufacture, a unit assembly of a screw and a washer.

Applicants invention further contemplates the provision of a method and a machine for selecting and conveying individual washers from a hoppercontaining a number of washers.

A further object of the invention is to providev a fully automatic machine of relatively simple and rugged construction for feeding washers and screw blanks from suitable hoppers, for assembling these blanks and washers substantiallycontinuously and at a relatively high speed and,

while retaining the screw blank and washer in assembled relation, rolling the threads thereon thereby to produce as an article of manufacture a permanent assembly of screw and washer.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a high speed method-and mechanism for assembling screw blanks and washers and for deliver-,-

formed on the screw blank beneaththe washer thereby permanently to associate a washer with a screw.

Applicants invention further contemplates provision of simple and eflicient mechanisms for association with a standard screw thread rolling machine, whereby such standard machine may be employed automatically to produce permanent unit assemblies of screws and lock washers when supplied with screw blanks and lock washers.

Specifically, applicant's invention seeks to provide a hopper for receiving lock washers, a washer feeding mechanism, a screw blank and washer assembly mechanism, and auxiliary mechanisms which may be easily installed on a standard thread rolling machine.

Another object of applicant's invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for individually feeding washers, specifically lock washers of the toothed type, from a hopper or other receptacle containing a mass of washers, in a continuous succession to a predetermined point and automatically registering with fastening elements, specifically screw blanks, separately conveyed to said predetermined point and to release said washers automatically, one by one, upon engagement with said fastening elements.

A further object is to provide asimple, efficient and readily attachable assembly mechanism for subtracting fastening elements, specifically screw blanks, from a conveyor in individual succession and for utilizing the fastening elements to subtract washer elements in individual succession from a second conveyor and to effect an assembly of said elements.

Another object is to provide, in an assembly mechanism of the above stated character, means for positively clamping each screw blank to the blank receiving element of the assembly mechanism and to provide means for operating said clamping means at a. proper instant to release the blanks after assembly with the washers and to provide means to eject the assembled units in succession from said blank receiving element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a thread rolling machine adapted for the production of permanent unit assemblies of screw blanks and washers, transfer means or mechanism for preventing feeding of washerless screw blanks to the thread rolling mechanism.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical elevation of the opg ziigite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical elevai: 51f the rear of the machine shown in Figs. 1 an Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, plan view partially in section *and taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. '7 is a transverse section through the transfer mechanism and said section being taken along the line 'I-l of Fig. 6,.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary,longitudinal section taken through the transfer mechanism along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section through the washer hopper and feeding mechanism, said section being taken substantially along' the line. Ill-l0 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, vertical section along the line "-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, plan section along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is. an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken substantially along the line i4-I4 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, vertical section along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary section along the line l6-l6 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, vertical section showing the assembling mechanism, said section being taken along the line l'l-l'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary, vertical section along the line Iii-l8 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 19 is a View in section similar to Fig. 18

but showing the elements thereof in a different position of operation.

Fig. 20 is a view in exploded perspective of the means for driving the assembly mechanism and for ejecting the assembled blanks and washers from said mechanism.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary section along the line 2l-2I of Fig. 1'7.

Fig. 22 is a detail view of a portion of Fig. 21 for illustrating the operation of the ejector means of the assembly mechanism.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary, plan section taken substantially along the line 23-23 of Fig. 21, r

and showing the means for injecting the screw blanks into the assembly mechanism.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary, plan section taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 25 is a detail view of a portion of Fig. 24 and similar to Fig. 23 for showing the operation of the injector means.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary section along the line 26-26 of Fig.28.

' 29-29 of Fig. 28.

ing the assembled from assembly mechanism and for preventing the ejection of washer- Fig. 30 is a fragmentary plan section along the line30-30 of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 30 but showing the operation of the transfer mechanism in ejecting a washerless screw blank.

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 21 but illustrating a modification of the assembly mechanism including electrically operable means for ejectless screw blanks from said mechanism.

Fig. 33 is a reproduction of a portion of Fig. 32 but with the ejector means automatically renderedinoperative. v

Fig. 34 is a fragmentarmplan section along the line 24-34 of Fig. 32.

Fig. 35 is a reproduction of a portion of Fig. 34 for showing the path of movement of the assembled screw blank and washer being ejected from the assemblymechanism under the of the ejector means.

Fig. 36 is a. view similar to Fig. 35 but showing the path of movement of the washerless screw blank when the ejector means has been rendered inoperative.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary view in substantially vertical section along the line "-21 of Fig. 32.

Fig. 38 is a view similar to Fig. 37, showing the operation of the washer detector element of the ejector means.

Fig. 39 is a vertical elevation of a screw blank and lock washer assembly prior to the rolling of threads on the blank.

Fig. 40 is a vertical elevation similar to Fig. 39 but with the threads rolled on the blank.

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in section of a modified form of washer hopper and washer feeding mechanism.

Fig. 42 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 42-42 of Fig. 45, certain parts being broken away for illustrative purposes. I

Fig. 43 is a vertical section along the line 43-43 of Fig. 41.

Fig. 44 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 44-44 of Fig. 41.-

V Fig. 45 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 45-45 of Fig. 41.

Fig. 46 is a fragmentary plan view showing 'modified injector and ejector mechanisms.

Fig. 47 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 41-41 of Fig. 46.

Fig. 48 is a fragmentary section along the line 48-48 of Fig. 47. I

Fig. 49 is a fragmentary section along the line 49-49 of Fig. 47.

Fig. 50 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line ,50-50' of No, 1,584,263 of May 11, 1926, and No. 1,798,919

of March 31, 1931, for which are provided a plurality of additional and substitute mechanisms by which said machine may be adapted for the production of a permanently assembled screw and washer unit as a new article of commerce. These additional and substitute mechanisms comprise 'a hopper 4 for receiving a. mass of washers; a

control washer assembling mechanism III; a modified guide chute l2 for feeding the screw blanks to the assembly mechanism and from th assembly mechanism to an improved transfer mechanism H; a drive attachment l6 for the feed mechanism 6; a driving mechanism l8 for the assembly mechanism; an injector mechanism (Fig. 6) for injecting the screw blanks. into the assembly mechanism from the guide chute l2; and an ejector mechanism 22 (Fig. l) for ejecting the assembled blanks and washers from the assembly mechanism onto the lower portion of the guide chute l2.

The screw thread rolling machine comprises a main base or pedestal 24; an auxiliary base or body 26 secured to or formed integrally with the base 24 and inclined at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal: a hopper 28 for receiving a mass of screw blanks; a screw blank feed mechanism 38 for discharging blanks from the hopper 28 onto the guide chute l2; a pair of thread rolling dies 32 and 34 (Fig. 6); a starter mechanism 86 and a driving mechanism 38.

Quantities of screw blanks are dumped or massed in the hopper 28 and quantities of lock washers are dumped or massed in the hopper 4. From the hopper 28 the screw blanks are moved or fed by the feed mechanism 38 to the guide chute l2, down which the blanks gravitate to a position in juxtaposition to the assembly mechanism 10. From this position the screw blanks are injected, one by one, into the assembly mechanism. The injected screw blanks are moved along a predetermined path, during which movement the blanks successively engage and remove washers from the feed chute 8 to which the washers have been fed by the feed mechanism 8 from the washer hopper 4.

Following the engagement or assembly of the blanks and washers, assembled units continue to move in a predetermined path through the assembly mechanism, and the assembled units are subsequently ejected from the assembly mechanism and deposited upon the lower portion of the guide chute l2.

The assembled units are fed or gravitate along this lower portion of the guide chute to the hot-- washers; while moving along said arcuate path inserting the shank of the leading screw blank through the central opening of the leading lock washer and then feeding the assembled blank and washer along said arcuate path to a second arcuate path of movement thereof along a prediiferent sizes.

tom end thereof and are transferred from the lower end of the chute in individual succession to a position in alinement with the thread rolling dies and are then injected or pushed between these dies where, in the forming of the threads, the surface material of the screw blank is projected outwardly and permanently retains the washer and screw in assembled relation. During the transfer operation, washerless screw blanks are rejected and these may be received in a suitable receptacle from whence they may be returned to the hopper 28.

It will be apparent from the above description that applicants method of manufacturing preassembled units of screws and Washers involves the following steps:

1. Massing a quantity of screw blanks;

2. Massing a quantity of lock washers;

3. Feeding the screw blanks in individual suc- 5. Feeding the screw blanks from their first predetermined position along an arcuate path intersecting the path of, movement of the lock determined rectilinear path to a given station, and, while moving along said path, forming on the shank of each screw blankbeneath the washer thereon, threads having an outside diameter exceeding thediameter of the central hole in the lock washer.

7. Diverting from said rectilinear path wash- The hopper and feed mechanism for the screw blanks As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the hopper 28 and feed mechanism 38 for the screw blanks compris a hopper casting 40 mounted on a casting 42 for adjustment at right angles to the guide chute [2, which is formed by spaced bars 44 and 46 (Fig. 6). The bar 44 is mounted in the usual manner at its opposite ends in supporting brackets (not shown) secured to the body 28 and to the rear of the hopper casting 40. The bar 46 is mounted upon the supporting brackets of the bar 44, .in the conventional manner, to permit adjustment toward and from the bar 44 to accommodate screw blanks havingshanks of A cover plate 48, which overlies the chute I2 is secured to the bar 46 for vertlcal adjustment relative thereto to accommodate screw blanks having different size heads.

The outer guide bar 46 is cut into two longitudinally spaced parts or strips; an upper part 58 and a lower part 52 (Fig. 24). The inner guide bar 44 is provided with a projecting portion or'block 54 extending into the space between the parts 01' strips 50 and 52 and forming, with the lower end of the part 50 and the upper end of the part 52, guide channels 56 and 58. A block or wedge 60, which may be formed integrally with the block 54, is secured to the inner guide bar above said block 54. The outwardly tapering surface 62 of the block 68 cooperates with the inwardly tapering surface 64 of the part or strip 50 to form a guide channel for smoothly directing the screw blanks from the longitudinal channel of the upper portionof the guide chute l2 into the transverse or discharge guide channel 56.

A spring strip 66 is mounted in a recess in the lower face of the block 54 so that it lies flush with the surface of the block 54, the strip 65 having a curved end 68 extending outwardly of the block 54 to provide a resilient deflecting member for directing the temporarily assembled units from the transverse receiving channel 58 into the longitudinally extending channel of the lower portion of the guide chute l2. A cover plate 69 (Fig. 6), similar to the cover plate 48, may extend over the units in the lower portion of the guide chute l2 and may similarly be adjustably secured to the lower part 52 to accommodate screw blanks having different size heads.

The casting 42, which supports the hopper, is adjustably mounted upon a casting 10 (Fig. l)

for-adjustment along an inclined plane parallel to the. plane of inclination of the auxiliary base 26 and the guide-chute I2. The casting 10 is mounted upon the rear of the base or pedestal 24 in a manner to permit vertical adjustment of said casting 10 at right angles to the auxiliary base 26 and the guide chute I2.

Slidably mounted in guideways formed in the hopper casting is a reciprocating. plate 12, which, as it moves upwardly, picks up screw blanks from the mass of blanks in the hopper 28 and drops them onto the guide chute I2. A clearing device, or ratchet, 14, which is secured to a shaft I6 mounted in a bracket 18, overlies the chute I2 and extends into the hopper 28 to assure uninterrupted procession of blanks down the chute and to prevent clogging of the passage from the hopper. The bracket 18 is adjustably mounted by a stud 80 on an arm 82 projecting forwardly from the hopper casting 40. The clearing device is rotated by means of a pulley 84 secured to the shaft", and the pulley 84 is driven by a belt 86 which passes over a sheave 88 secured toa shaft 80 rotatably journaled in bearings formed in opposite walls of an oil reservoir housing 82 supported upon the auxiliary base 26.

The hopper and feed mechanisms for the washers The hopper 4 of the hopper and feed mechanisms for the washers (Figs. 1, 2 and 10 to 16) comprises a casting or housing 94-(Fig. 10) having inwardly inclined side walls 96 and 98 and a rear wall I00. The front of the housing is left open. A transverse partition or wall I02 (Fig. 14) forms with the side and rear walls a chamber I04 for receiving a mass of washers. Beneath the wall I02 the hopper is provided with vertically extending side walls I06 (Fig. 10), a rear wall I08 (Figs. 10 and 14), and a bottom, laterally extending wall IIO forming a chamber for receiving a reciprocating washer feed plate H2. The bottom wall IIO also forms a support by which the hopper casting 4 may be secured in a suitable manner to the casting of the washer feed mechanism 6. The rear wall I08 is offset centrally thereof (Fig. 10) to form a housing for a coil spring 4 (Fig. 14) which is secured at one end by a pin II6 to the reciprocating plate H2 and atits other end is adjustably secured by a set screw II8 to the bottom wall H0.

The hopper casting 94 abuts the casting I20 of the washer feed mechanism 6 to which it may be fastened in any desired manner as by bolts I22 (Fig. 10) passing through the side walls I06 of the hopper 4 and the rear wall I24 of the casting or housing I20. The feed plate H2 is guided in its reciprocating movements by the walls I06 and I08 and a plate I26 clamped between the walls I06 of the hopper 4 and the end wall I24 of the casting I20. The plate I26 extends substantially to the bottom wall IIO of the hopper 4 and is cut away between the wall H and the partition I02 to provide an opening into which extends a pin or bolt I28 (Fig. 14) secured to the lower portion of the feed plate I I2, and an operating or cam roller I30 is secured to the pin I28 to cause the feed plate to reciprocate in accordance with the rotation of a feed cam I32 mounted within the casting I20. The feed plate II2 reciprocates vertically within the hopper chamber I04 through a suitable slot provided in the partition I02. I

The cam I32 is journaled on a sleeve I34 and a roller bearing I36 and is operatively secured as .by bolts I38 to a worm wheel I40 rotatably ,ournaled on the sleeve I34 by means of the roller bearing I36 and a second roller bearing I42. The sleeve I34 has an enlarged head I44 overlying the roller bearing I42 and is externally threaded at its lower end to receive a nut I46, the enlarged head I44 and the nut I46 maintaining the roller bearings, the worm wheel and the cam in assembled relation on the sleeve. 4

A rotary washer feed plate or disk I48 is detachably secured to a ring I50 for rotation therewith by means of pins or dowels I52., The ring I50 is secured to the worm wheel I40, for rotation therewith, by the bolts I38. The rotary feed plate I48 has a peripherally extending recess I54 in its upper face, the radial width of this recess being substantially equal to the diameter of the washers to be fed. The feed plate I48 rotates within a circular opening in the top plate I56 of the casting I20 and the upper surface of the feed plate is flush with the upper surface of the top plate I56, which latter surface is machined or otherwise brought to a smooth finish so that the washers may readily move by gravity over such surface and into the peripheral recess I54 of the rotary feed plate. The walls of the peripheral recess I54 are similarly machined or brought to a smooth finish so that at the proper instant a washer within the recess may freely move by gravity into the inclined washer feed chute 8.

The washer feed chute 8 comprises a bottom plate or bar I58 (Figs. 11 and 14 to 16) having a smooth upper surface and upper, spaced apart guide bars I60 and I62 (Figs. 10 and 12 to 16). These bars I58, I60 and I62 are detachably secured to the top plate I56 of the casting I20 as by bolts or screws I64 (Fig. 10) and extend forwardly from said casting to a predetermined point in juxtaposition to the assembling mechanism I0. The lower inner edges of the guide bars I60 and I62 are cut away or recessed, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16, to form a channel I66 (Figs. 12 and 13) along which the lock washers gravitate from the washer feed mechanism to the assembling mechanism. At their lower ends the guide bars I60 and I62 are slotted or cut away as at I68 and I10, respectively (Fig. 12), to receive resilient catches I12 and I14, the outer free ends of which extend into the guide channel I66 in a position to engage the leading lock washer in the guide chute; to position this leading washer properly for assembly with a screw blank; to hold the line washers against dropping out of the end of the guide chute and to release the leading washer when engaged by a screw blank projecting through the central opening thereof. These resilient catches I12 and I14 comprise strips of spring metal secured as by screws I16 or the like to the outer edges of the guide bars I60 and I62. v

The guide chute 8 is detachably associated with the casting I20 and the feed plate or disk I48 is detachably associated with the driving ring I50 so that a similar chute and a similar disk, dimensioned to accommodate a. different size of washer, may be readily substituted therefor.

In order to facilitate the detachment of the feed plate or disk I48 from the driving ring I50, a pusher pin or rod I18is provided (Fig. 14). The rod extends centrally through the sleeve I34 and is externally threaded at its lower end to engage the internal threads of the sleeve I34 so that the rod I18, upon rotation, will be moved axially of the sleeve I34 from its normal position shown in Fig. 14 to engage the undersurface of 

